Surprise

Surprise was a highly successful American privateer schooner. She was launched in 1813 and operated out of Baltimore. She captured over 40 British vessels during her brief career. In one case the capture followed a single-ship action. She was wrecked in April 1815, shortly after the end of the War of 1812. Voyages During the voyages below Surprise would often based out of Brest. From there she would go on cruises of six to eight weeks. Voyage #1 Captain Clement Cathell commissioned Surprise on 14 March 1814. Under his command she captured some 12 British vessels. Fidelity, of North Shields, Hunter, master, was captured on 18 May, off Cape Clear Island, and burnt. James & David, Foreman, master, a brig, was sailing from Passages when captured on 18 May; Surprise put the crew of Fidelity on her too, and then gave her up to the crews, after first dismasting her; the Revenue Cruiser Beresford towed James and David into Baltimore, County Cork, that same day. Fox, Hore, master, a schooner, was captured on 16 May about 80 leagues south of Cork as she was sailing from Poole to Newfoundland; Surprise took off Foxs most valuable cargo, put aboard the crew of a brig that Surprise had captured the previous day, and allowed Fox to proceed. Fox reached Cork on 18 May. Hebe, ship, of Leith, was sailing from Halifax to Bermuda with naval stores when Surprise captured her in March, and sent into North Carolina. Kutusoff, Turnbull, master, was sailing from La Guaira when Surprise captured her and sent the brig into Frankfort, Maine. Margaret, a brig, Omay, master, was sailing from Lisbon to Dublin when Surprise captured her on 27 May; recaptured Margaret that day or the next. Vivid, brig, Ward, master, was sailing from Lisbon to Belfast when Surprise captured her on 27 May; recaptured Vivid, which then arrived at Cork on 16 June Fortitude, brig, Touzeau, master, was sailing from Rio de Janeiro to Guernsey when Surprise captured her on 27 May; sent into Union River (Maine) 1 unidentified vessel Traveller, of Lieth, Bishop, master, was sailing from North Bergen to Gibraltar when Surprise captured her on 8 May; on 11 May, recaptured her and sent her into Portsmouth. Argo, ship, Sibson, master, was sailing from Dublin and Cork to Quebec when Surprise captured her on 5 September and sent her to America.